Current Status

Civil marriage equality in effect at the state level since October 2014. (Same-sex couples may legally marry.)

Same-sex marriage is legal in the the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska as of 2015.

18 November 2014, the cost to the state of defending the Alaska ban on same-sex marriage has now topped six figures! See Hamby v. Parnell under LAWSUITS-PENDING below.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

28 October 2005, the AK Supreme Court ruled, in Alaska Civil Liberties Union v. State, that state and local government programs violated the Alaska Constitution’s equal protection provision by extending benefits to public employees’ spouses but denying benefits to employees’ domestic partners. The court held the programs unconstitutional because they denied benefits to people who are precluded, under Alaska’s marriage laws, from becoming eligible to receive them.

17 November 2006, the Alaska House voted in favor of legislation ordering a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees. November 20, the Alaska Senate passed the bill and on December 20, Governor Sarah Palin signed it.

Since 1 January 2007, Alaska has provided very limited benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees.

19 September 2013, the AK Division of Personnel and Labor Relations revised the definition of “immediate family” to include the same-gender partner of any state employee who takes leave because of that partner’s serious health condition.

The constitutional ban on same-sex marriage since 1998, per Resolution 42 and Ballot Measure 2, was ruled unconstitutional 12 October 2014 by U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess.

Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) was the grassroots movement to win marriage in the United States. With the U.S. Supreme Court victory on June 26, 2015 the work of the organization - though not the larger movement - was achieved and MEUSA ceased formal operations, closing in late 2017. For inquires please contact lovewins@marriageequality.org.